The GWS Giants have signed ex-West Coast utility Jarrod Brander in the first move of the AFL’s delisted free agency period.

Brander grew up in in Wentworth in NSW’s south and was a member of the Giants academy until his 2017 draft year when zones were changed and GWS lost priority access to him.

Now aged 22, Brander played 32 games for the Eagles in the past four seasons before being delisted.

GWS football manager Jason McCartney said the Giants had monitored Brander throughout his time at West Coast.

“We obviously had a strong connection with him up until his draft year and have tracked his career closely,” McCartney said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We identified a need to bring in another tall option and given we’ve lost some experience through retirements and delistings, it’s great to add a player who has already been in the system for a few years.”

The AFL’s delisted free agency period opened on Wednesday.

AAP

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